Five Food Related Books to Devour in a Single Sitting
If you are anything like me, you now find yourself deep in the post-Thanksgiving feast food-coma that will most likely last until Christmas. So, why not pair food coma with some foodie reads to keep you full through the holiday season! Here is a list of five food-centered novels that are a delight to read.
- Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl
I feel like every autumn/winter season calls for a cozy memoir to read. This is such a human time, a time for connection, remembrance, nostalgia. And nothing captures these feelings more than a captivating, well-written memoir. Ruth Reichl achieves just that in her Gourmet Memoir, Save Me the Plums. A captivating chronicle of Ruth’s unexpected journey from food lover to editor-in-chief of the iconic food magazine, Gourmet, Save Me the Plums combines warmth, wit, and recipes to create a satisfying read. Simultaneously a tribute to the golden age of print magazines and a deeply personal story of ambition, creativity, and the transformative power of food, Ruth’s memoir is an absolute must read this holiday season.
2. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
If you love a trashy, drama-filled, foodie adventure set in NYC, then Sweetbitter is for you. Following Tess, an ambitious 22-year-old who just landed in Manhattan with a suitcase and a dream of making it in the Big Apple, Tess quickly secures a job as a backwater for an elite restaurant, and suddenly finds herself submerged in a fast-paced, hedonistic environment. Chronicling her journey through the labyrinth of the fine dining world of New York, we watch as she becomes entangled in the lives of lavish New York City residents, and navigates the intoxicating luxury of food, wine, and fine service. A fun read from start to finish, Sweetbitter is a perfect finish-in-one-sitting novel.
3. Supper Club by Lara Williams
If you’re looking for something a little heavier, a story with more weight to really sink your teeth into and grapple with, I think Supper Club would be the perfect read. Williams takes the word “appetite” and explores the various relationships women have with the word — both literally and metaphorically — as she writes of women daring to reclaim their appetite, to take up space in a society that has spent so many years trying to shrink them. Centered around Roberta, a quiet and unassuming woman in her late twenties, we follow her journey of grappling with her existence and navigating her constant fear of shrinking herself to the point of becoming invisible. When Roberta meets Stevie, a bold and unconventional woman, her entire life changes. Together the two create The Supper Club, a secret, all-female cohort where women can come and indulge in food, freedom, and rebellion. A celebration of hunger, defiance, and agency, Supper Club is the perfect feminist foodie indulgence.
4. The Vegetarian by Han Kang
I would be remiss not to include a book for the non-turkey eaters this holiday season. And given the fact that Han Kang was just awarded The Nobel Prize in Literature, I’d say The Vegetarian is definitely a must read. Surprisingly accessible, The Vegetarian follows a seemingly unremarkable woman making the decision to stop eating meat. The protagonist, Yeong-Hye, begins this dietary transformation with a series of violent and surreal dreams that prompt her to reject the cultural and familial expectations imposed on her. Her choice, initially dismissed as eccentric, soon spirals into a full-fledged rebellion against societal norms, leaving her family bewildered and enraged. An interesting look into a culture so set in its traditions and customs that the decision to become vegetarian feels radical and impossible, Han Kang handles such a mundane story with excitement and an energy that feels tangible. Her writing is a must read for every carnivore or vegetarian alike, to see for yourselves why she was so aptly picked for the Nobel Prize.
5. A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G Summers
We all love a little dark humor around the holidays, right? Well, A Certain Hunger is just that — provocative, funny, and a daring blend of culinary arts with the macabre, Chelsea G Summers novel feels new and revolutionary. The novel follows Dorothy Daniels, a witty and unapologetically hedonistic food critic with an insatiable hunger. The only issue is when her appetite can no longer be satisfied by food alone, as Dorothy slowly finds pleasure in carnal desire and ultimately, murder. A simultaneous satire on food culture and a chilling character study, A Certain Hunger is a richly crafted novel centered around appetite, power, and identity, offering a provocative and unforgettable feast for the mind.
And there you have it! Five novels to sink your teeth into this holiday season. Bon Appetite!
